Ground
by Magnus Lindberg
Description
Jukka Tiensuu, the composer, musician and [former] organiser of the Time of Music festival at Viitasaari in Finland, has asked Lindberg for a harpsichord piece for the 1983 festival. The score, completed in Rome in June 1983, was too complex to be played according to the composer's directions. Tiensuu performed part of the piece at Viitasaari two years later, while the complete first perforamnce only took place in February 1990, when certain passages were played by a sampler. Ground follows on from Sculpture II and prefigures Zona and Kraft in its polyrhythmic organisation.
The title of the piece is taken from the term 'ground' in English baroque music, indicating a basic harmonic sequence over which variations are developed. The concept of 'ground' is close to the 'chaconne' technique, employed in almost all Lindberg's pieces from the early 80's onwards.
© Risto Nieminen, 1993, translated by © Nick Le Quesne
© Ircam - Centre Georges-Pompidou, 1993
(From Magnus Lindberg, Helsinki 1996)
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Jukka Tiensuu, compositeur, musicien et organisateur du Festival de la musique contemporaine à Viitasaari en Finlande, avait demandé à Lindberg une pièce pour clavecin pour le festival en 1983. La partition, terminée à Rome en juin 1983, était trop complexe pour être jouée conformément aux indications du compositeur. Tiensuu a interprété une partie de la pièce à Viitasaari deux ans plus tard et la pièce ne fut créée qu'en février 1990, certains passages étant joués par un échantillonneur. Ground suit la lignée de Sculpture II et anticipe sur Zona et Kraft par son organisation rythmique.
Le titre de la pièce est issu du terme de musique baroque anglaise «ground», c'est-à-dire une séquence de fond harmonique sur laquelle évoluent des variations. La notion de «ground» n'est pas loin de la technique de «chaconne», utilisée dans presque toutes les pièces de Lindberg à partir du début des années 80.
© Risto Nieminen, 1993
© Ircam - Centre Georges-Pompidou, 1993
(From Magnus Lindberg, Ircam 1993)
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Instrumentation cemb
Instrument codes
| Abbreviation | Instrument |
|---|
| Woodwind | |
|---|
| acl | alto clarinet |
| afl | alto flute |
| arec | alto recorder |
| asax | alto saxophone |
| barsax | baritone saxophone |
| barhn | baritone horn |
| bcl | bass clarinet |
| bfl | bass flute |
| bob | bass oboe |
| bsax | bass saxophone |
| bsn | bassoon |
| cbsn | contrabassoon |
| cl | clarinet |
| ehn | English horn |
| fl | flute |
| hn | French horn |
| ob | oboe |
| pic | piccolo |
| rec | recorder |
| sax | saxophone |
| srec | soprano recorder |
| ssax | soprano saxophone |
| trec | tenor recorder |
| tsax | tenor saxophone |
| Brass | |
|---|
| ahn | alto horn |
| atrb | altotrombone |
| barhn | baritone horn |
| btrb | bass trombone |
| cornet | cornet |
| euph | euphonium |
| fhn | flugelhorn |
| hn | French horn |
| tba | tuuba |
| thn | tenor horn |
| trb | trombone |
| trp | trumpet |
| Percussion | |
|---|
| dr | drums |
| glock | glockenspiel |
| mar | marimba |
| perc | percussion |
| timp | timpani |
| vibr | vibraphone |
| xyl | xylophone |
| Strings | |
|---|
| db | double bass |
| gamba | viola da gamba |
| str | strings |
| vla | viola |
| vlc | cello |
| vln | violin |
| Other | |
|---|
| acc | accordion |
| cel | celesta |
| cemb | harpsichord |
| chords | chords |
| elbas | electric bass |
| elg | electric guitar |
| elorg | electric organ |
| elpno | electric piano |
| guit | guitar |
| harm | harmonium |
| hca | harmonica |
| hp | harp |
| instr | instrument |
| kantele | kantele |
| keyb | keyboard |
| live electr | live electronics |
| mand | mandolin |
| mel | melody |
| org | organ |
| pno | piano |
| synth | synthesizer |
| tape | tape |
| Vocal | |
|---|
| alto | alto |
| baryt | baritone |
| basso | bass voice |
| ch | choir |
| chc | childrens choir |
| chf | female choir |
| chm | male choir |
| chx | mixed choir |
| cten | countertenor |
| mezzo | mezzo-soprano |
| sopr | soprano |
| speaker | speaker |
| ten | tenor |
| voc | vocal |
Coding for instrument ensembles and orchestras
| Symphony orchestra | |
|---|
| 2222 4331 11 1, str = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 French horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, one other percussionist, harp and strings |
| Wind band | |
|---|
| 2252 3 423 21212 3 = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 5 clarinets, 2 bassoons - 3 saxophones - 4 French horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones - 2 cornets, alto horn, 2 tenor horns, baritone horn, 2 tubas - 3 percussionists |
| Big band | |
|---|
| 221 4 4, pno, guit, db, dr = 2 alto saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, baritone saxophone, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piano, guitar, double bass, drums |
| Additional codes | |
|---|
| + | fl+pic = flutist doubles on piccolo |
| / | pno/org = can be played on either piano or organ |
| lib | ad libitum |
| obl | obligato |
| str | str: 65432 = specified number of string players |
| str min | str min: 65432 = at least 65432 |
| str max | str max: 65432 = not more than 65432 |
| solo | vln solo = violin is the solo instrument in a work not obviously for solo violin |
Category Works for Solo Instrument
Premiere
(harpsichord): Jukka Tiensuu, Time of Music Festival, Viitasaari, August 6, 1985, Fcp (harpsichord and computer): Jukka Tiensuu and the Experimental Studio of the Finnish Broadcasting Company, Helsinki, February 15, 1990.
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